[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S10243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   U.S. DISTRICT COURTS ARBITRATION APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate a 
message from the House of Representatives on (S. 996) to provide for 
the authorization of appropriations in each fiscal year for arbitration 
in U.S. district courts.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the House of Representatives:

       Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 996) entitled 
     ``An Act to provide for the authorization of appropriations 
     in each fiscal year for arbitration in United States district 
     courts.'', do pass with the following amendments:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. ARBITRATION IN DISTRICT COURTS.

       Section 905 of the Judicial Improvements and Access to 
     Justice Act (28 U.S.C. 651 note) is amended in the first 
     sentence by striking ``for each of the fiscal years 1994 
     through 1997'' and inserting ``for each fiscal year''.

     SEC. 2. ENHANCEMENT OF JUDICIAL INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.

       Section 103(b)(2) of the Civil Justice Reform Act of 1990 
     (Public Law 101-650; 104 Stat. 5096; 28 U.S.C. 471 note) is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(2)'';
       (2) by striking ``sections 471 through 478'' and inserting 
     ``sections 472, 473, 474, 475, 477, and 478''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) The requirements set forth in section 476 of title 
     28, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall 
     remain in effect permanently.''.

     SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN TEMPORARY JUDGESHIPS.

       Section 203(c) of the Judicial Improvements Act of 1990 (28 
     U.S.C. 133 note) is amended--
       (1) by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating the 
     succeeding paragraphs accordingly; and
       (2) by striking the last 3 sentences and inserting the 
     following: ``Except with respect to the western district of 
     Michigan and the eastern district of Pennsylvania, the first 
     vacancy in the office of district judge in each of the 
     judicial districts named in this subsection, occurring 10 
     years or more after the confirmation date of the judge named 
     to fill the temporary judgeship created by this subsection, 
     shall not be filled. The first vacancy in the office of 
     district judge in the western district of Michigan, occurring 
     after December 1, 1995, shall not be filled. The first 
     vacancy in the office of district judge in the eastern 
     district of Pennsylvania, occurring 5 years or more after the 
     confirmation date of the judge named to the fill the 
     temporary judgeship created for such district under this 
     subsection, shall not be filled. For districts named in this 
     subsection for which multiple judgeships are created by this 
     Act, the last of those judgeships filled shall be the 
     judgeships created under this section.''.

     SEC. 4. TRANSFER OF FEDERAL COURT JUDGESHIP.

       The table contained in section 133(a) of title 28, United 
     States Code, is amended by amending the item relating to 
     Louisiana to read as follows:

``Louisiana:                                                            
    ``Eastern...................................................      12
    ``Middle....................................................       3
    ``Western...................................................    7''.
                                                                        


  Amend the title so as to read ``An Act to provide for the 
authorization of appropriations in each fiscal year for arbitration in 
United States district courts, and for other purposes.''.

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
concur in the amendments of the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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